15 Facts About Valentine Fleming

Major Valentine Fleming, was a Scottish Conservative Member of Parliament who was killed in the First World War.

Valentine Fleming was the father of authors Peter Fleming and Ian Fleming, the latter of whom created the James Bond character.

Valentine Fleming was educated at Eton College and Magdalen College, Oxford.

Valentine Fleming married Evelyn Beatrice Sainte Croix Rose in London on 15 February 1906.

Valentine Fleming was a Member of Parliament for Henley from 1910 to 1917.

At the outbreak of the First World War Valentine Fleming was a captain in 'C' Squadron, Queen's Own Oxfordshire Hussars, a yeomanry regiment, having received his commission on 30 June 1908.

Valentine Fleming wrote a "brisk and breezy account" to a fellow officer in England in 1914 about the start of the war.

Valentine Fleming wrote to a close friend, Winston Churchill, in 1914 :.

Valentine Fleming was promoted to major on 2 November 1914 and became the commanding officer of 'C' Squadron.

Valentine Fleming was appointed the second-in-command of the regiment in January 1916.

Valentine Fleming was killed by German shellfire at Gillemont Farm, near Epehy, Somme, France on 20 May 1917.

Valentine Fleming is buried at Templeux-le-Guerard British Cemetery, near the village of Templeux-le-Guerard.

Valentine Fleming is commemorated on Panel 8 of the Parliamentary War Memorial in Westminster Hall, one of 22 MPs that died during World War I to be named on that memorial.

Valentine Fleming is one of 19 MPs who fell in the war who are commemorated by heraldic shields in the Commons Chamber.

In 1914, shortly before leaving to fight in France, Valentine Fleming signed a will that left Pitt House and his effects to his wife Evelyn; most of his estate was left in trust to benefit their four sons and their future families.